Don't let the flu get you!

It's that time of year again.  The air is cooler, the leaves are falling, kids are back into the swing of school and...it's time for that annual flu shot.  Just as I encourage adhering to the recommended vaccination schedule for both children and adults, I encourage getting your annual flu vaccination.


My Top Reasons for Recommending the Flu Vaccine:
​
#1 To help protect yourself from the flu.
Seasonal influenza, or "the flu" is caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs).  Unlike many other viral infections such as the common cold, the flu can cause severe, life-threatening complications in many people.

• It's estimated that up to 20% of the U.S. population gets the flu shot every year.
• More than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu complications each year.
• Flu deaths range from 3,000 - 49,000 each year in the U.S.
• Some of us are at higher risk for flu complications (older people, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases, such as asthma).

#2 To help protect others from the flu.
You can transmit the flu to others for about 1 day prior to showing symptoms and for a week after becoming sick.  This is particularly important when thinking about those of us in the community who are at greater risk for complications (older, younger, etc) as well as those of us who are unable to get the vaccine ourselves (infants younger than 6-months of age and those with life-threatening allergies to the flu vaccine).

#3 To help protect yourself from having a heart attack. No, really.
A recent meta-analysis, which assessed 6,400 heart disease patients showed that those who received a flu vaccination had SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER risk of heart attack or stroke.

• Specifically, in adults who had suffered heart attacks in the previous year, a flu shot provided a 55% REDUCED RISK of a second heart attack over the following year.
• For adults with heart disease who did not recently suffer a heart attack, the flu shot decreased their risk for a heart attack or stroke by 36%
• In ALL heart disease patients in these studies, the risk from dying from heart disease was nearly 20% lower in patients who received the flu vaccine compared with those who skipped the shot.
• In this study it was estimated that 1 stroke or heart attack was prevented for about every 50 patients receiving a flu vaccine.

​
Frequently asked questions:

1. Can a flu shot give you the flu?No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. Flu vaccines given with a needle are currently made in two ways: the vaccine is made either with a) flu vaccine viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ and are therefore not infectious, or b) with no flu vaccine viruses at all (which is the case for recombinant influenza vaccine). The most common side effects from the influenza shot are soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. Low-grade fever, headache and muscle aches also may occur.
   In randomized, blinded studies, where some people get inactivated flu shots and others get salt-water shots, the only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who got the flu shot. There were no differences in terms of body aches, fever, cough, runny nose or sore throat.
   Carolyn Bridges et al. (2000). Effectiveness and cost-benefit of influenza vaccination of healthy working adults: A randomized controlled trial.  Kristin Nichol et al. (1995). The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy working adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 333(14): 889-893.
2. Is it better to get the flu than the flu vaccine? No. Flu can be a serious disease, particularly among young children, older adults, and people with certain chronic health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes. Any flu infection can carry a risk of serious complications, hospitalization or death, even among otherwise healthy children and adults. Therefore, getting vaccinated is a safer choice than risking illness to obtain immune protection.
3. Do I really need a flu vaccine every year?  Yes. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for just about everyone 6 months and older, even when the viruses the vaccine protects against have not changed from the previous season. The reason for this is that a person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccination is needed to get the “optimal” or best protection against the flu.
4. ​Is it true that getting a flu vaccine can make you more susceptible to other respiratory viruses?  ​​There was one study (published in 2012) that suggested that influenza vaccination might make people more susceptible to other respiratory infections. After that study was published, many experts looked into this issue further and conducted additional studies to see if the findings could be replicated. No other studies have found this effect. For example, this article [99 KB, 5 pages] in Clinical Infectious Diseases (published in 2013). It’s not clear why this finding was detected in the one study, but the preponderance of evidence suggests that this is not a common or regular occurrence and that influenza vaccination does not, in fact, make people more susceptible to other respiratory infections.
5. ​Why do some people not feel well after getting the seasonal flu vaccine? Some people report having mild reactions to flu vaccination. The most common reaction to the flu shot in adults has been soreness, redness or swelling at the spot where the shot was given. This usually lasts less than two days. This initial soreness is most likely the result of the body’s early immune response reacting to a foreign substance entering the body. Other reactions following the flu shot are usually mild and can include a low grade fever and aches. If these reactions occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days. The most common reactions people have to flu vaccine are considerably less severe than the symptoms caused by actual flu illness.
6. What's in the flu shot? The 2018-2019 Flulaval single-dose syringes contain: 2 strains of influenza A (H1N1, H3N2), 2 strains of influenza B (Yamagata, Victoria), tocopherol succinate (a Vitamin E derived antioxidant), polysorbate 80 (a common emulsifier used in vaccines).   These single-dose vials contain no thimerosal.​

General reminders about the flu:

• Flu season generally runs from October through March, peaking in January.
• It can take up to about 2 weeks for your body to build enough protective antibodies after you receive the vaccine (i.e. get it done earlier in the season).
• The flu tends to come on suddenly and can cause fevers, chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, fatigue and a stuffy or runny nose.
• The flu is NOT the same as a cold and the shot will not protect you from the other common viruses circulating this time of year.  This is a total bummer, but the best we have for now.
• The virus changes every year, which is why you need another flu shot each fall.
• ​Just because you've "never had the flu" doesn't mean you're invincible to it.  You have probably never been hit by a bus before, but I'll bet you still look both ways before crossing the street ;)
• The CDC recommends annual flu vaccines for most people 6 months and over.  You can read more about their recommendations HERE.

And to round out the discussion just a bit, I agree there are many other measures we can take to help protect ourselves from contagious diseases such as: eating well, getting enough sleep, managing our stress, covering our coughs and washing our hands regularly.  Still, I believe vaccinations are an important part of disease prevention.

Health Suite 110 carries Flulaval, a quadrivalent (4 strain) flu vaccine and is available to members ages 6 months and over for $25.  Contact clinic to schedule your flu vaccine today!

Wishing you a happy and healthy fall season with family and friends,
Dr. Vannaman

---